All about how God has blessed me. In my marriage, with my six children, through homeschooling, and our faith with recipes, large family living, and updates on our life.

I am not sure how it happens … how the passage of time goes so quickly, and you blink and six months have passed. Your blog has sat empty. Your farm is in a new season of growing. A school year has ended and a new one begun. The children have grown.

I am not sure where the time goes. I am not sure how it happens so so fast. Where is the sweet little boy who is now nearly a teenager who can do *almost* anything you can do, who can fry chicken better than you, who can put the baby to sleep, cuddle a crying brother, or make his sister smile easier than anyone else can. I am not sure where the skinny little toddler went who turned into a skinny boy, who still can give the best butterfly kisses or look at you like you’ve hung the moon. Or when my first precious baby girl turned into one of the big kids who goes shopping with you to “help” and then actually does. Who announces on the fly that she’s going to wash the dishes for you. Or who cries for you when you get sick. How my blond haired baby turns into the sweetest blond headed FIVE year old. How she can melt a heart with a smile or a look and who will rub your head when you’ve had a hard day. Where did the time go when the crazy haired baby turned into the sweetest funniest toddler ever. Who loves his sister and cherishes her and who can make anyone laugh. Or how is it that my baby is somehow not a baby anymore, but a walking, talking, toddler getting into trouble and falling deeper and deeper into our hearts.

How is it that the time goes by so quickly and I, with all my faults, and failures, deserve to be this blessed. Deserve these six beautiful blessings. And then get the joy of holding another one deep in my womb. Holding my breath seven more months to meet the newest miracle to add to our family.

Wonderful family, I can’t even begin to state how thankful we are for each other. The love we have for each other, our health, we are so thankful to be a big, loving, family.

I asked the girls what they were thankful for this morning. Adreya quickly piped up with “Jesus”. There are not words to express the joy that fills my heart to know that my children walk in truth and that they love and appreciate our Lord. Madelynne’s spur of the moment answer was “family and friends.” It made this Mommy’s heart happy. Following Christmas and the gift-giving holiday that it was, my girls could have rightfully so, been thankful for the toys, or the new clothes, or the candy …. and I know they are for I see the evidence of it daily, but to be most thankful for the things that truly matter is special.

My children love to read. They love stories. They love to submerse themselves into an adventure and see what happens. I was thankful that Beloved Books allowed us the opportunity to review their audio collection of the Sugar Creek Gang Volume 1.

The Sugar Creek Gang Volume are wholesome Christian adventure stories about a group of boys that are read straight from the text (good for following along if you also have the actual story) and dramatized (“with voices”, as my eleven year old told me.) My oldest son loved listening to these CD’s and devoured them. The story is “fun to listen to” and “very entertaining”. They were very “Christian-y”, which means that not only is there a gospel message written expertly into each book in a simple, easy-to-understand style, but the whole series is a discipleship journey. The books also add in education through nature studies, poetry, hymns and science.

Volume 1 of the Sugar Creek Gang CDs includes 12 CDs with the following stories: The Swamp Robber, The Killer Bear, The Winter Rescue, The Lost Campers, Chicago Adventure, and The Secret Hideout. Each story is about 2 hours long. They are currently available for purchase for $54.95 with free media rate shipping.

In The Swamp Robber, the Sugar Creek Gang discovers a disguise hidden in an old tree that might belong to the robber that is hiding in the swamp … but then find a map hidden near the tree. The boys also end up encountering the robber,helping Bill Collins (the narrator) welcome a baby sister, and save someone from a black widow spider bite. A good lesson in “sowing and reaping”.

In The Killer Bear, the boys learn a lesson on forgiveness. In this story decisions are made at revival, and while at the strawberry patch the boys encounter an angry black bear.

In The Winter Rescue, Little Jim’s pet baby bear goes missing. The search for the bear takes the boys to a cabin in the woods where they learn all about the power of prayer.

In The Lost Campers, the boys realize what it means to be saved – both physically and spiritually. On their camping trip they find a train car without any tracks, and an “honest to goodness” Indian, resplendent with war feathers and beads.

In The Chicago Adventure, the boy’s trip to Chicago is an adventure that starts with an airplane ride over a storm and includes a visit to a museum, an elevated train ride, and a chance to perform on the radio at the Moody Bible Institute. In this story the boys learn that Jesus is the only way to heaven.

In The Secret Hideout, the boys learn and understand the parable of the lost sheep, while spending the night in a cave that has a hidden passage near the cemetery.

I felt blessed to have been able to review these audio books, and with how much Brendyn loves them, I may move them into the car as our new something-to-listen-to. We did receive this product free in exchange for this review. We have been blessed.

When you are a kid, weeks take too long, a month seems like forever, and years are just too large to fathom. How is it then, that as you get older, those years go by in the blink of an eye? How is humanly possible that my baby boy was born three whole years ago. When I can remember so clearly looking down at the wild-haired dark-eyed blessing God had given to us. That I can so clearly recall bringing him home from the hospital, and him meeting all his siblings. Even Brendyn can remember his first birthday so vividly. Wyatt, looking down at that cake as if to say, “Is this really all for me?”

It is so amazing to me, that even after six kids, that each kid is so different, with their own personality, their own quirks, their own “special-ness.” Wyatt has been a charmer since the day he was born. And he was the baby who was our baby for the longest time. So, it may be possible that is a little spoiled. He makes us laugh daily with his antics, or his looks, or his playing. He eats everything we put in front of him. He is happy to help and even happier to entertain. He loves to play with toys and with people. (Although his knock, knock jokes still need some work.)

He is a good big brother to Cassidy (he wants to play with her and kiss her, touch her and hug her, let her run her fingers through his crazy hair.) He is a good little brother. He adores his Bubby! It is often Brendyn that Wyatt wants to tuck him in, or Bubby who is his favorite (even though I keep trying to change his mind.)

Wyatt was baby number five. The baby that according to modern preconceptions, was too many. The baby that made us from a large family, into a too-big family. Imagine if we would’ve listened. If I would’ve stopped after four, or even worse, three, like “normal people” are supposed to do. I can’t imagine my life with out that big-headed, wild-haired, doe-eyed, smiling little boy.

…when you’re too busy! Austin has been laid off again, so we are putting all our efforts into farming and markets and enjoying getting to spend lots of time as a family. We have been in this season before (for three years – from two weeks before Adreya was born until the Monday after her third birthday) and we are not fearful about being in this season again. When Austin was out of work for three years, we saw over and over again how the Lord provided for us. And even though it has been just one month now, we are still faithful and He has been faithful to show us already how we are in His hands. So in the last month, we have prepared our ground, planted seeds, and have little sproutlings up. We are doing a second planting today to stagger our crop. We have started doing markets (right now by buying and reselling to secure our position until our own crops are in) and are enjoying the fellowship and friendly atmosphere, but mostly enjoying being together as a Family.

Somehow in all of that going on, even though we DID celebrate my middle princesses FOURTH birthday, I forgot to get on here and make a tribute to her. I love that no matter how many children you have, they each end up different … with different personalities, different attitudes, different likes … Adreya is our charmer. She is the one who people levitate towards. She is so beautiful with her silky dirty blond hair and has a sweet personality. She is a nurturer and quick to help, happy to please. She is the best at doing a job through to completion, and often is the one I can count on to do a job that her three bigger siblings would leave unfinished, or complain about – Adreya will take on the task, with a good cheerful attitude and see it through, smiling, and talking all the way. She makes my Mother’s heart happy.

Recently, when I asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up, she answered “a very nice queen”, which I thought was a great answer!!! Brendyn answered that question with a chef (he loves to cook and try out new recipes – he has quite the repertoire of meals I can completely turn over to him now.) Tyler had a hard time deciding, because he just doesn’t know yet, although for the sake of an answer, he told me a police man. We’ll work on the strength and endurance that comes with that later!! Madelynne answered ” a homeschooling mommy” with four kids: Violet (her favorite toy), Virgil (grandpa’s middle name), Virginia (Grammy’s name), and Victor (the only other boy v name we could think of). She also wants her husband to farm and do markets that way he can be home, although, she says, if he has to work for long times, she will “just have to look after all my four kids by myself.” Wyatt said he wanted to be a soldier, with his Bubba (Brendyn says he would like to go do a short military tour before becoming a chef and Wyatt idolizes his brother!). Cassidy couldn’t answer for herself, so I decided for her she should attempt to be a princess. She is already so good at it!

When I first heard about the BeeYouTiful Review, I was excited. I think a lot of us would rather use the most natural products we can for our children. However, my family had the Car-to-the-Mechanic or Baby-to-the-Doctor syndrome when it came time to review these wonderful products. You know what I’m talking about, right? You car is making a funny noise, right up until you drive into the mechanics driveway. Or your kid is feverish and listless until you get to the doctor, and then they are running around. All summer long, our family suffered with allergies, bumps and bruises, sunburn, chapped lips, etc. all right until we received these products to try out!

The Berry Well syrup is what I was most looking forward to using, as my husband suffers from seasonal allergies. It is an elderberry, raw honey and Echinacea syrup used as a dietary supplement to fight against the flu, colds, and bacterial and viral infections. After a full two days of mowing and weeding our yard, I noticed my husband’s allergies start attacking him and I had him take the syrup. It smells odd, but he said it tasted good; none of the shudder or aftertaste of store-bought medication. The syrup did seem to lessen his allergies. It did not dry them up completely, but it lessened the symptoms, and he only had to take the syrup for a couple of days. It is sold for $19.75 for an 8 oz. bottle.

Ow! Ease was the product we just couldn’t seem to find occasion to use. You would think with six children in the house, we should be getting bumps and bruises daily, but not so for this period of time. Except for a curious two-year old rubbing his fingers through it, we weren’t able to put this product to use. It is a trauma salve used for strains, sprains, bruises, and contusions. It is used to soothe, restore, and actually speed tissue healing. It has an extra virgin olive oil based and is infused with chamomile, St. Johns Wort, organic arnica (which is a yellow daisy-like alpine flower), and cayenne. It is scented with essential oils, which makes it smell very nice (but not girly so that you could definitely use it for husbands or sons.) It is available for $15.00 for a 1 ounce tube.

The Miracle Skin Salve can be used for sunburn, chapped lips, diaper rash, painful wounds and burns. It is made with plantain leaf, comfrey root, calendula flowers and more. I was able to find the most ways to use this product. I burned my arm on splattering grease and it did soothe the burning pain very quickly. It works beautifully on chapped lips. And it soothes bug bites better than any of the over-the-counter products we have tried. I think this is the must-have product of the bunch! There are so many uses for this! It is sold for $15.00 for the 2 oz. tub (which is what we got and would last for a while!), or $25.00 for the 4 oz. tub.

The Lip Balm is again, all natural, and is a great lip moisturizer. It is available in Orange (which I got), and Peppermint, for a very reasonable price of $3 each. It is a great lip balm and I appreciated the fact that it had no alcohol in it. Many over-the-counter chap-sticks have alcohol which actually dry your lips out more, making you need more and more of them.

The Beeyoutiful DVD contains video of Stephanie Tallent sharing how she uses some of the most popular Beeyoutiful products with her family. I know there are other products that I will be diligently checking out and adding to our medicine cabinet. This is available for $3.00 and is a definite must-have for anyone wanting to switch over to a more natural approach to healing. She even instructs you on making a garlic poultice.

We feel blessed to have been able to review these products. We were sent these for free in exchange for an honest review.

For a long time, God has been using a myriad of examples to prove to me over and over that my children and my family are the Ministry God has called me to. Because of that, I found that over the past year it has really started to bother me that we get to church and my family separates into different places, only coming together again when church is over. It’s something Austin and I have talked about a lot. So, like how most things happen, I was thrilled to see Great Waters Press, (who published Raising Real Men by Hal and Melanie Young), offer up the opportunity to review a book called, Children in Church: Nurturing the Hearts of Worship, by Curt and Sandra Lovelace. This book is available for pre-order for $12 (with Free Shipping), by clicking here.

I received this 160 page book and sat and read it in one setting. And since then I have been back to it several times. My husband and I have talked about it. There are nine chapters: Beginnings, Elements, Decisions, Pointers, Preparations, Supplies, Hints, Conflicts, Observations and then a section called: Note to Church Leaders.

The beginning of the book lays out the foundation of why they believe that children worshipping together with their parents is biblical and the model that the early churches followed. There are several scripture references given, both Old and New Testament. Throughout the book they offer examples, pointers, tips all in the way of making it easier to teach your children how to sit in church respectfully and appropriately so that your family can be together. It is my personal belief (and I am sorry to be controversial for a second, here) but I do believe that Sunday School and Junior Churches and Teen Programs and other such programs were not created for Churched kids. It is my belief that they were created to bring the unchurched kids in and give them a safe environment for them to learn and grow. I think there is HUGE value to Children’s programs, especially in conjunction with a Bus or Van ministry. And I have been a proponent for a church nursery so that I could focus on a service and not feel like a juggler, trying to juggle keeping preschoolers quiet, toddlers still, and a baby quiet – all while trying to hold my Bible, or the hymnbook, listen to the preacher, and pray we’re not disturbing all the people within a ten foot radius. But, as I grow and learn, I desire for my family to be together. I desire for us to worship corporally, instead of individually. I desire to work through this book, using their examples and train my children to sit in church and enjoy the service with me.

This book has been a Godsend to me. It truly gives a Biblical basis for bringing our children into the worship services and offers practical help to make it not only survivable, but gives us ways to teach our children to engage in the service and worship the Lord. I feel blessed to have been able to review this book, and I hope that as time progresses, you will see our family, making more effort to worship together!

We received this book for free in exchange for a review. We have been blessed.

31 does not seem like a great number. The general consensus yesterday while receiving my birthday wishes seemed to be “31, really? Wow!” I know, I am getting older! But even though the number went up one and my sweet Adreya told me that I was “really old now. As old as Grandma Doane.” (Who, just as a reference, is 76!!), even though I got older …. yesterday was a really great birthday!

My kids tried their best to be sweet yesterday and indulged me with as many hugs as I asked for! My dearest best friend brought over her five children and we spent the day together and despite being in the house with ELEVEN children, I really enjoyed it and had so much fun! They brought a spa to my house, they baked me a pink lemonade cake and even brought my favorite flavor of ice cream! And then she brought over everything we needed to do Tie-Dye (which I had never done before). So soon I will have a new long tie-dye skirt to add to my wardrobe and all the kids will have a neat T-shirt of their own creation!

Once Austin got home from work, he and my Mom took me out for dinner where I had a very yummy steak! Sitting at dinner surrounded by the people I love the most, and then reminiscing on the way home … I could only come up with one thing – I really am SO incredibly blessed! Happy Birthday to Me.

After seeing the booth for Family Time Fitness at the FPEA Convention, I knew I wanted to add them to my “must buy” curriculum list. When I saw their name on the possible list for review, I held my breath and prayed we’d get to review the Fitness 4 Home School Core 1 Curriculum. And we were blessed enough to be chosen! This is a physical education curriculum designed for kids K-8 that can be taught with the teacher having no prior phys ed knowledge. What really “drew me in” at the convention is the guy telling me he hands this to his oldest child, and that child taught P.E. for his other children. That is exactly how we used this program!

For a small amount of $57, you get 260 lessons. Each lesson takes about 30 – 45 minutes and are intended at 3 days per week. Although, I like to get my children outside every day, so we did four times a week, with Friday being “free play” day. All the lessons are PDF so there are lots of options, including reading it on the computer, a kindle, nook, i-pad, or printing it. There is the FULL lesson (which is two pages) or a Summary (which is one page per lesson). There are demonstration videos showing the proper way to do each exercise.

The equipment needed is minimal (things like a bean bag, hula hoop, balls). There are warm up Exercises (which is about three to five different things), and then Activity/ Game Play (a couple more exercises that help with skills), A Cool Down (about two to three stretching type exercises) and an outdoor activity. We reviewed this during our rainy season, so for most days the kids could not do their exercises out doors, but our living room worked just fine for most things!

We did this curriculum during our lunch break. For us, I printed the two page (full detail) instructions and handed them to my oldest (who is 11), Brendyn, and he led the others through the stretches and exercises while I got lunch ready. It was fun to peek around the corner and see them in their stretching moves and hearing Brendyn “coach” them through their repetitions. There were a couple of things that my kids are going to have to build up to (like 60 jumping jacks), but for the most part they Really enjoyed seeing what they would be doing and tried their best to attempt and finish everything. The variety helped keep it fun and interesting. My littlest kids loved trying everything out and doing the exercises.

This is something we will definitely keep as part of our ongoing curriculum, maybe even upgrading to the other options!! We feel blessed to have been able to review this curriculum. We did receive this free in exchange for a review.

I can take so long posting about this vacation, it is like savoring the experience for as long as possible. Sorry, this is what happens when you have six kids and slow internet. Posts may be few and far between!

Austin teaching Tyler and Wyatt how to fish.

After we went Treasure Hunting in Bowling Green, we stayed overnight in Indianapolis, and then headed to Michigan. I don’t know if this will make any sense at all, but there is something about being in Michigan that pulls at my heart. Maybe because so much of my family is there. Maybe because it is where I was born. But there is part deep inside my heart that will ALWAYS think of Michigan as “home”. Just being in the state felt different to me somehow, knowing I was going to my Grandma and Grandpa’s house (it’s now my aunt’s and uncle’s as both my grandparents on that side have passed on). The family, the memories. I felt it all deep, deep in my heart.

It had been over TEN years since I had been at that house. Closer to fifteen or twenty since I had seen some of my cousins. I will admit to being a little nervous. But we were welcomed and loved and hugged and helped and it meant the world to us! While we were there we swam at the lake and just enjoyed spending time with family. We camped in our new tent and despite the HOT weather, and the people-biting fish, we really enjoyed ourselves. Even Cassidy got into a nice summertime schedule of eating, taking a cooling-off dip in the lake, and settle in for a nap.

Cassidy loved being at the Lake and even came home suntanned!

An Amish girl, younger than Brendyn, doing farm chores.

The Amish house we stayed at.

After seeing all our family, we headed towards Ohio, to spend the night with the Amish. I will just say this is an area where our expectations were no where close to reality. Let me preface what I am about to say, by first saying this … the Amish people were VERY nice and hospitable and kind. But their house was very modern. They had a gas run refrigerator, gas and battery-powered lights. Other than the fact that there was no a/c, and Miss Mary hand-cooked every aspect of our meal, you would never know it was an Amish house. The coolest part of the experience was seeing the landscape and seeing the Amish people in their buggies on the drive to and from. Seeing them in their farms working, or riding their bicycles on the side of the road. We really enjoyed seeing the Amish community.

After that, we went to North Carolina to Thermal City Gold Mine for some gold panning and Gem mining. This was the same gem mining set up, except dirt was sold by the bucket full and the size rocks we found were MUCH bigger. Austin and Brendyn and Tyler all tried their hands at gold panning, but sad to say, we didn’t strike it rich.

All the gems we found at Thermal City Gold Mine.

We bought two $30 buckets of dirt there and found remarkable stones. Still trying to figure out what to do with them. And still thinking a rock tumbler may be our best solution. Maybe we could even get a couple of pieces mounted into a necklace or something. I loved the faces on the kids when they would uncover something pretty. I saw every rock that came out of the dirt because they had to show me what they had found. Every single rock was a treasure to them. It’s been a long time since I had so much awe over rocks.

Brendyn trying his hand at panning for gold.

This was the best vacation we have ever had. I know I said this before, but the kids were So good. And we had so much fun! We are so blessed.

Five special blessings to me today: Starting (home)school in one week, vacation memories, hand-me-downs, sweet tea, and far away family.